Article lifting apparatus



June 16, 1959 H. JACQUART 2,890,906

ARTICLE `LIFTING APPARATUS INVEN TOR.

HERMAN JACQUART (jf/WAM@ ATTORNEY June l16, 1959 H. JACQUART 2,890,906

ARTICLE LIFTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 4. 1954 s sheets-sheet 2 ff/M,

ATTORNEY June 16, 1959 H. JACQUART ARTICLE LIFTING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 4. 1954 INVENTOR. HERMAN JACQUART ATTORNEY Patented June 16, 1959 nited States Patent fice 2,890,906 ARTICLE LIFrlNG APPARATUS' oii of Pennsylvania Application August 4, 14954, Serial No. 447,828

6 claims. (cl. 294-86) invention relates to apparatus for lifting elongated articles and is more particularly concerned with such an apparatus for lifting piles of such articles into and out of conned spaces.

Heavy elongated articles, such as steel blooms and billets, bars, beams, pipe and the like are generally handled by crane because of their weight. The conventional method of lifting such articles either singly or in piles is to employ a pair of slings which are wrapped around the articles and attached to the crane hook. These slings, which may be made of rope or chain, must be passed under the article and attached to the crane hook manually. Each crane whichmust lift such artlcles usually requires not only an operator in the cab but also a man on the ground, called a crane follower, to attach and detach the slings above mentioned. `When loads of such articles are to be removed from gondola cars or other conlined spaces, the crane follower frequently is required to clamber up over the load in order to pass the slings around it, which slowsdown such unloading and increases its difficulty.

It is an object of my invention, therefore, to provide apparatus which may be carried by a crane and is capable of engaging and lifting elongated articles automatically, so dispensing with la crane follower. It is another object of my invention to provide such apparatus which requires a of side clearance around theload and so may be used in gondola cars and other conned spaces. Other objects of my invention will appear in the course of the following description and explanation.

A present preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the attached figures to which reference is now made.

Figure l isa side elevation of such an embodiment with its load engaging members in open position.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is an end elevation `of the apparatus of `my invention, unsupported, in which the load engaging members* are in closed position.

A-Figur e4 is a plan of a portion of the apparatus of Figure 1 viewed from below.

Figure 5 is a perspective of a portion of my apparatus in which certain elements are broken away to clearer view of operating parts.

Figure 6 is a detail view partly in section of a latch element of my apparatus which -acts automatically to connect and disconnect portions thereof.

Figure 7 is a perspective showing part of the element ofFigure 6 and other portions of my apparatus in disconnecting relation.

Figure 8 is a view similar to that of Figure 7 with the parts shown in connecting relation.

Figure 9 is an exploded view of a portion of my apparatus as shown in Figure l.

My apparatus is provided with a massive upright load transmitting member 1 formed with` an aperture 2`at provide a its upper end adapted to fit over a crane hook. Load transmitting member 1 is also formed with a pair of vertical parallel slots 3 and `4 which extend over a portion of its length. The bottom of member 1 is provided with a centr-al cutout 6, shown in Figure 9, to accommodate a latch element to be described. Massiye cross pieces 7 and 8 -are bolted across member 1 at the bottom `thereof and may be spaced from member liby spacer plates 9-9. A cross member designated generally 14 is formed by heavy rectangular members 1t)` and 11 spaced apart to admit two pairs of hanger elements 12-12 and 13-13, one pair at either end. These hanger elements 12-12 and 13-13 are cut out or mortised on each side as shown so as to align members and 11 `with each other and to t over these members, but are not directly attached to members 10 and 11. Members 10 and 11 are further spacedapart by thin rectangular members 15 and 16 respectively, which are provided with rectangular cutouts 17 and '18 respectively in the center of their lower edges further to enlarge the opening 6` which accommodates the latching element to be described. Members 10 and 11 are held together by shoulder cross bolts 20-20 and 21-21 which are positioned to-pass through slots 4 and 3 respectively of load transmitting member 1. Member 1 is thus slideably connected to the cross member 14. Load is transmitted from cross member 14'to upright member 1 through cross pieces 7 `and. 8. 1.

A second cross member designated generally 2.3 has aflat bottom plate 24 to which is attached at one end l a pair `of spaced opstanding lugs 25`25 and at the other end a similar pair of spaced upstanding lugs 26,-26.\ Between spaced lugs 25 is positioned a lug 28 having an elongated vertical extension A29 yand `between lugs v26 ispositioned an upstanding lug 30 having an elongated vertical extension 31. Vertical extension. 29 is positioned to pass` upwardly between horizontal `members 10 and` 11 in the space between therpair of Changers 12-12 previously mentioned,and verticalextension 31 4is likef wise positioned to pass upwardly between horizontal,

members 10` and 11 in the space betweenhangers 13-13..,

Cross members 14 and 23 are maintained parallelto each; other by the construction above described, but can move toward and away from each other as vertical extensions 29 and 3l slide between hangers 12-12 and 13,-13

A pair of pins 33--33 pass `through lugs 25a-25 and 28, a similar pair of pins 34 pass through lugs 26-26 and 30. Over pins 33-33 in the spaces between lugs 25--25 and 28 are positioned rollers 36---36` Similar rollers` not shown are similarly positioned `on pins 34-34. An4

elongated arcuate tong member 38 provided with an: elongated arcuate slot 39` is mounted between lugs Z5 and 28 so that pins 33 and rollers 36 pass through slot 39. A second opposed elongated arcuate tong member 40 provided also with an elongated arcuate' slot 41 `is similarly mounted between lugs 25 and 28, onthe other` side of lug 28 from tong member 38. The otherend of cross member 23 is provided with a like pair of elongated arcuate tong members 42 and 44 respectively.` All.y tong members are of the same length and extend around i an arc of more than 180. i i 1 The upper end of tong member 38 is pivotally connected by pin 46 between a pair of links 47--47. The upper ends of links 47-47 are pivotally connected by" pin 48 to the lower ends of hanger elements 1241.2.'-

The upper end of tong member 40 is likewise pivotally connected by pin 50 to a pair of links 51.-51, the upper i ends of which are also pivotally connected `by pin' S3* to lower ends of `hanger elements 12T-12. Tong meni- 5f r bers 42 and Y44 are' likewise connected'to the lower ends Y 3 of hanger elements 13-13 by pairs of links 55-55 and^5656 respectively.

Cross member 23 is provided with a pair of plates 59 59 positioned above plate 24 and spaced apart to fform` centrally located slot 60 vpositioned with its long axis at right angles tothe long axis. offcross member 23. vIn the cutout opening 6 at the lower end of load transmitting element 1 is mounted a latch mechanism designated generally 61 and shown in Figure 6. This latch isprovided with a cylindrical plunger element 62 mounted verticallywithin a cylindrical cavity 63. Element 62 lcan move up and down and rotate freely in cavity 63 but is prevented from falling out by cross pin 64. 1 The lower end of element 62 is provided with an elongated cross member 65 which, when aligned with its long parallel to that of slot 60, will pass through this slot and in `this position may be turned through 90 so as to engage the undersides of plates SSL-59. The inside surface of cavity 63 is provided at the bottom with an inwardly projecting annular ridge formed with four upright cusps or peaks 67-67 spaced 90 lfrom each other. Between each pair of peaks 67-67 the annular ridge is depressed to form a valley 68. Four such valleys 68 are thus found around the lower inside surface of cavity 63 and when cylindrical element 62 is not otherwise supported it must fall so that cross pin 64 lies within one of these four valleys 68. The upper end of cavity 63 is provided in similar manner with an annular ridge having four downwardly pointed peaks 70 separated yby inverted valleys 71-71 spaced 90 apart. Valleys 71-471 at the upper end of chamber 63 are positioned very nearly opposite peaks 67--67 at the lower end 'of this chamber but are oifsetY a few degrees, each valley 71 being oifset from corresponding peak 67 inthe same direction. When cylindrical member 62 is raised-therefore, cross pin 64 is deflected downwardly extending peak 70 causing cylindrical element 62 to rotate about its long axis. When member 62 is raised until .cross pin 64 occupies the bottom of an inverted valley 71,V member 62 has been turned 45 from its original position. If this member is then allowed to fall,

Y cross pin 64 is further deflected in the same direction by the peak or culsp 67 into the adjoining valley 68 which causes a further rotation of 45 Each time cylindrical member 62`is raised and lowered, therefore, cross mennber `65 -is turned through 90.

'The operation of my apparatus will now be described Withreference to the present preferred embodiment which has been described in the foregoing paragraphs and is illustrated in the attached figures. It will be observed that tong member 38 can move only on the rollers 36--36-carried by Vpins 33-33 which pass through slot 39. The path of movement of tong member 38 is therefore determined by the shape of slot 39. This slot is conveniently made an arc of a circle and tong member 38 can move only lengthwise in the arcuate path determined by slot 39. The other tong membersbeing identical with tong member 38, alsoA can move lengthwise only along arcuate paths. The pair of opposed tong members 38 andV 40 ytherefore move from an open to a closed positionalong a path which is an are of a circle. The length of each tong member and the length of the groovetherein is adjusted so that the pair of tongs 38 and 40 `in its `open position spans the diameter of the circular arcuatepath defined 'by slots 39 and 41, and closes cornpletely in its closed position; that is to say, the lower ends-.of :tongmemberst38 Yand 40 meet or overlap. The maximum overall width of tong pair 38 'and 40 is therefore Ano -greater`when the tongs are fully :open than it isfwhen ,they vare closed. .It is this feature which makes my apparatus .adaptable to loading articles into and out of conned spaces where side clearance is limited, and my apparatus requires no additional side clearance for opening.

4Let it be assumedthat my apparatus isin the position 4 shown in Figures l and 2, that is, with both pairs of tong members in the fully open position and latch mechanism 61 adapted to connect upright member 1 to lower cross member 23, as illustrated in Figure 8. In this position my apparatus can be moved about by a crane and positioned above a load of elongated articles to be lifted. Such articles must be supported by blocks or other means of a height suicient to permit the lower ends of the tong elements of my apparatus to pass beneath the load, but this requirement must also be met for articles to be lifted by conventional slingmeans. My apparatus is lowered over the load with its open -tong members straddling the load until the upper surface of the latter makes ycontact with `the ylower face of plate 24. Lower cross member 23 is then prevented from further descent by its contact with the load. Similarly, cylindrical member 62 of latch member 61 is likewise prevented from further descent, as it is supported by plate 24. If, therefore, felement y1 and everything supported by it is allowed to descend further, cylindrical member 62 kmoves' yilpwardly with respect to cavity 63 and is turned through an angle of about 45 when cross pin 64 vis deflected :by a face of downwardly projecting peak 70. If now .element 1 -is lifted slightly, tubular member 62 moves downwardly with respect to cavity 63 and is rotateda'n additional 45? as crossfpin 64 is deflected by a sloping face of upwardly projecting peak 67. This rotation of190 turns vcross ymember 65V into the positionshown in Figure 7 in which it is parallel withslot 60 and, `as upward movement of element 1 continues, cross member 65 is with drawn from slot 60, disconnecting lower cross member` 23 fromupright element 1. Upward movement of-element 1 .carries along with it upper cross member 14 including hanger elements 12-12 and 13--13. Hanger pair 12`12 transmits through link pairs 47-47 and 51--51 upward movement to the upper or pin ends of tong members 38 Vand 40 and causes these tong members `to move through vtheir arcuate path into the final closed yposition shown in Figure 3. In this position tong members 3.8 land `40, and, of course, tong members 42 and 44 as well, enclose theload. As upper cross member 14moves away from lower cross member 23, upright projections 29 and 31 which are attached to lower cross member 23 `act ,as guid` so that cross members 14 and 23 `remain parallel and aligned. When tong members 38 and 40 reachtheir closed position shown in Figure 3, the lower ends of links 47-47 and 51-51 bear against the' rounded shoulders of lugs 25-25 and lug 28, preventing further movement of -tong members 38 and 40 with respect '-.t0 each other. The load enclosed by the four tong members is then lifted, its weight being transmitted by the four-tong members through their associated connecting links and hangers to cross member 14 which in turn is carried rby cross pieces 7 and 8 bolted to upright member 1.

When the load carried by my apparatus is to beg'set' down, my apparatus is :lowered until the load rests upon blocks or` skids positioned to receive it. my apparatus is then continued 'until the lower face tof plate 24 again rests upon the upper surface of theload.

The weight of descending `upright element 1' and cross' member 14 then causes tong elements 38 and 40 to -move in their arcuate path to the open position shownin' Figure 2. When latch mechanism 61 carried at the lower end of upright element 1 approaches cross member'23 closely enough, ymember 65 `enters slot 66 and -bottoms on the upper surface of plate 24. This brings about the Y operation `of my latch mechanism 61 in the 'manner-'falready described so as to connect upright memberl .with lower cross member 23. -My apparatus can then be lifted clear of the load.

It will be observed that latch mechanism 61 carries no load other than the weight of lower cross member 23. Guide members 29 and 3l likewise carry no load, nor

l do vpins 33--33 and bolts 20-20 and 214-21. YIt will also beobserved-thatmy tongs 4`are of the .self-locking type,

Lowering -of that is, the force exerted by the load acts upon my mechanism in such fashion as to force the tong members into their closed position. My tongs cannot be opened unless the load is otherwise supported. It will also be observed that my upper cross member 14 is constructed so that it is self-aligning with respect to lower cross member 23. This is brought about by the construction of the hangers 12-12 and :i3-13 which rest on cross members and 11 and against upright guide members 29 and 31 respectively, but are free to move laterally to a certain degree.

It is necessary to provide the vertical slots 3 and 4 previously mentioned in upright member 1, which in turn permit a certain amount of movement of upper cross member 14 with respect to upright member 1, to permit my apparatus to operate as above described when a load of maximum height considerably less than the inner diameter of the tong circle is being unloaded on the ground or low blocks. In such case the tong members strike the ground or oor before plate 24 comes to rest on top of the load, and must push cross member 14 upwards with respect to upright 1 to permit plate 24 to reach its lowest position. This lowest position with respect to the ends of the tong members is fixed by the geometry of the device, and places a limit on the minimum height of load which can be handled by my apparatus if the load is not properly blocked.

I claim:

l. Article lifting apparatus comprising an upright loadtransmitting member, an upper cross member supported thereon and movable vertically thereon, a lower cross member movable vertically with respect to the upper cross member and with respect to the upright load-transmitting member, means slidably connecting upper and lower cross members so as to maintain alignment thereof, a pair of opposed elongated arcuate tong members, means slidably attaching the tong members to the lower cross member for movement lengthwise of the tong members in an arcuate path from a closed position in which their lower ends assume a load-enclosing relation to an open position in which the lower ends assume a load-straddling relation, separate load-transmitting means pivotally connected between the upper end of each tong member and the upper cross member, and means detachably connecting the upright loadgtransmitting member to the lower cross member when the tong members are in their open position but not in their closed position.

2. Article lifting apparatus of claim 1 in which the means slidably attaching the tong members to the lower Cross member comprise a pair of spaced pins fixed to the 6 lower cross member parallel thereto and an arcuate, slot in each tong member extending lengthwise thereof from a point near the upper end thereof, through which both pins pass.

3. Article lifting apparatus of claim 1 in which the means slidably connecting upper and lower cross members so as to maintain alignment thereof comprises a slot in the upper cross member and an upright member affixed to the lower cross member and passing through the slot in the upper cross member in slidable relation therewith.

4. Article lifting apparatus of claim 2 in which the lower cross member is provided with lugs extending beyond the pins and adapted to transmit load from the arcuate tong members to the load-transmitting means pivotally connected between the upper ends of the tong members and the upper cross member.

5. Article lifting apparatus of claim l in which the load-transmitting means pivotally co-nnected between the upper ends of the tong members and the upper cross member comprise a hanger supported by the upper cross member and slidable thereon lengthwise thereof and a pair of links pivotally connected between the hanger and the upper end of each tong member respectively.

6. Article lifting apparatus of claim 1 in which the means slidably connecting upper and lower cross members so as to maintain alignment thereof comprise a hanger supported by the upper cross member and slidable thereon lengthwise thereof, a vertical slot in the hanger and an upright member affixed to the lower cross member and passing through the slot in the hanger in slidable relation therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 102,049 Scanlan Apr. 19, 1870 1,283,080 Coe Oct. 29, 1918 1,506,827 Gellert Sept. 2, 1924 1,534,414 Rogers et al. Apr. 21, 1925 1,729,330 Dart Sept. 24, 1929 2,215,844 Van Syckle Sept. 24, 1940 2,286,071 Dragan et al. June 9, 1942 2,298,145 Merrylees Oct. 6, 1942 2,617,678 Kelso Nov. 11, 1952 2,624,611 Knapp Jan. 6, 1953 2,629,627 Stone Feb. 24, 1953 2,655,401 Kelso Oct. 13, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 750,505 Germany Jan. 15, 1945 642,100 Great Britain Aug. 30, 1950 

